William Richard Newsome

Captain William (Bill) R. Newsome, USN (Ret.) age 95, of Bonita, California, departed this life and entered the next life on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. He was at home with his family present. Bill was born in New York, New York, the son of William and Mamie Newsome, and the brother of Hilda Bundick (deceased). He graduated from Tilden High School and Brooklyn College. From 1942 until 1945, Bill served in the Navy during World War II, in the Pacific theater, as an officer aboard an LCI(M). After the war, he attended and graduated from NYU law school and was admitted to the New York bar. Also during that time period, he was an usher and head usher at Ebbets Field where his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers once played ball. After a short stint in private law practice, Bill was called back into military service when the Korean war broke out. By then he was a lawyer, and so began his 27 year career as a JAG officer and military judge in the Navy, a career capped off in 1969 when he served as chief counsel for the court of inquiry investigating the capture of the USS Pueblo, a service for which Bill was awarded the Legion of Merit. After his retirement in 1977, Bill remained active as a little league coach and umpire; serving as president of his homeowners' association; avidly serving in the Bonita Optimists Club; and a nearly 25 year career as a part-time arbitrator for FINRA, adjudicating broker/customer disputes. Bill loved to play golf and watch professional sports, especially baseball (switched allegiance to the San Diego Padres since 1969). Bill was a man of genuine faith. He was married for 66 years to the love of his life, Mary, formerly of Portage, PA. They met while both were stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, she then a Navy nurse.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary, and three children, Victoria (Vicky), William (Bill) and his wife Afi, and Matthew (Matt) and his wife Debbie, and three grandsons, William (Will), Alexander (Alex) and Christopher (Chris).

A funeral service for William will be held Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Corpus Christ Catholic Church, 450 Corral Canyon Road, Bonita, CA 91902. A graveside service will occur Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122. A reception at the Little Lodge will occur Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM at Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GlenAbbeysandiego.com for the NEWSOME family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bonita Optimists Club.

The Bonita Optimist Club

PO Box 872

Bonita, CA 91908

http://www.bonitaoptimist.org/index.html